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Rent Affordability Calculator

Calculate how much rent you can afford based on your income using the 30% rule and accounting for other debts.

CALCULATOR

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Instant results
$1,000Maximum Rent
$900Recommended Rent (90% of Max)
20%Rent to Income Ratio
Monthly gross income: $5000.00
30% rule: $5000.00 × 0.30 = $1500.00
Subtract other debts: $1500.00 - $500.00 = $1000.00
Recommended (90% of max): $1000.00 × 0.90 = $900.00
Max rent is 20% of your monthly income

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THE NUMORIX GUIDE

How to use the Rent Affordability Calculator

Last reviewed September 14, 2026

What this calculator does

The engine converts annual gross income to monthly income by dividing by 12; monthly income is used unchanged.

Formula and method

The engine converts annual gross income to monthly income by dividing by 12; monthly income is used unchanged. It multiplies monthly income by the entered affordability percentage, subtracts other monthly debts, clamps the result at zero for maximum rent, then sets recommended rent to 90% of that maximum. The rent-to-income ratio is maximum rent divided by monthly income, shown to one decimal place.

Variables and inputs

Enter gross income in dollars and choose Annual or Monthly, then enter other monthly debts and an affordability percentage. The UI defaults to a 30% rule. Other debts are treated as a dollar-for-dollar reduction from the percentage-based rent allowance, not as a separate percentage debt-to-income calculation.

Worked example

For $60,000 annual gross income, $500 in other monthly debts, and a 30% percentage, monthly income is 60,000 / 12 = $5,000. The percentage allowance is $5,000 x 0.30 = $1,500; maximum rent is $1,500 - $500 = $1,000; recommended rent is $1,000 x 0.90 = $900; the displayed ratio is 20.0%.

How to interpret the result

Maximum rent is the engine's remaining allowance after its selected percentage and debt subtraction. Recommended rent is an additional 10% cushion below that maximum, not a lender, landlord, or budgeting approval.

Common mistakes to avoid

Select Annual when entering yearly salary and Monthly when entering monthly gross pay. Enter debts as a monthly dollar amount, and enter 30 for 30% rather than 0.30. Do not treat gross income as take-home pay.

Assumptions and limitations

The 30% rule is a planning heuristic and does not model taxes, utilities, insurance, deposits, commuting, childcare, household size, local rents, credit screening, or irregular income. The engine clamps negative maximum rent to zero and does not distinguish debt types or calculate a formal debt-to-income ratio.

Sources and references

COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently asked questions

Should I enter gross or take-home income?

The field is Gross Income and the engine uses that amount before taxes and deductions. Compare the result with your actual take-home budget before making a housing decision.

How do other debts affect maximum rent?

The engine subtracts the entered monthly debt dollars directly from the percentage-based allowance. It does not apply the debt percentage to income or distinguish required from optional spending.

Why is recommended rent below maximum rent?

The engine multiplies its maximum by 0.90, creating a 10% cushion. That cushion is a software rule, not a guarantee that the remaining budget will cover every housing cost.